Oven with split doors

ABSTRACT

An oven door operating apparatus is provided. In one example, the oven door operating apparatus can comprise a first panel having a first plurality of grooves that traverse a side surface of the first panel. The oven door operating apparatus can also comprise a second panel having a second plurality of grooves that traverse a side surface of the second panel, wherein the side surface of the first panel faces the side surface of the second panel. Further, the oven door operating apparatus can include an oven door positioned between the side surface of the first panel and the side surface of the second panel. In one or more embodiments, the oven door can have a plurality of projections that extend from the oven door into the first plurality of grooves and the second plurality of grooves. Also, in various embodiments the first plurality of grooves and the second plurality of grooves can extend in a first direction and then turn to extend in a second direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/570,974 filed on Oct. 11, 2017, entitled “OVEN WITH SPLITDOORS.” The entirety of the aforementioned application is incorporatedby reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates to an oven with split doors, and morespecifically, to an oven with split doors that can travel in parallel toeach other to improve functionality and efficiency.

BACKGROUND ART

Ovens can vary greatly in size and function, ranging from small toasterovens to large commercial ovens. One common features amongst varioussize ovens is the necessity of a door to facilitate the introduction andremoval of items to and from the subject oven. As ovens increase insize, as do conventional oven doors. Thus, large ovens often comprisedoors that are heavy, slow to operate, and require a large amount ofspace to function properly. For example, oven doors that swing away fromthe subject oven require a space free of obstacles for the door totraverse through during opening and closing, thereby increasing thetotal amount of free space necessary for oven operation. In anotherexample, ovens that comprise a door that slides vertically to achieveopen and closed states require free space above the subject oven so asto not impede the opening of the door, thereby increasing the necessaryheight of available space necessary for oven operation.

Various embodiments described herein regard an oven that can comprise aplurality of doors, which can be operated independent of each other soas to increase the oven's efficiency and functionality. For example, byutilizing a plurality of doors instead of one door, one or more ovensdescribed herein can comprise doors that weigh less than conventionaldoors for an equivalent oven, operate more quickly than conventionaldoors for an equivalent oven, and/or require less space for operationthan conventional doors for an equivalent oven. Similarly, one or moreembodiments described herein regard a method that can facilitateoperation of an oven comprising a plurality of oven doors.

SUMMARY

The following presents a summary to provide a basic understanding of oneor more embodiments of the invention. This summary is not intended toidentify key or critical elements, or delineate any scope of theparticular embodiments or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose isto present concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the moredetailed description that is presented later. In one or more embodimentsdescribed herein apparatuses and/or methods that can facilitateoperation of a split door oven are described.

According to an embodiment, an oven door operating apparatus isprovided. The oven door operating apparatus can comprise a first panelcomprising a first plurality of grooves that can traverse a side surfaceof the first panel. Also, the oven door operating apparatus can comprisea second panel comprising a second plurality of grooves that cantraverse a side surface of the second panel, wherein the side surface ofthe first panel can face the side surface of the second panel. Further,the oven door operating apparatus can comprise an oven door positionedbetween the side surface of the first panel and the side surface of thesecond panel. The oven door can comprise a plurality of projections thatextend from the oven door into the first plurality of grooves and thesecond plurality of grooves. Moreover, the first plurality of groovesand the second plurality of grooves can extend in a first direction andthen turn to extend in a second direction.

According to another embodiment, an oven is provided. The oven cancomprise an oven body that can have a hollow space defined by aplurality of sides, wherein a side of the plurality of sides can have ahole that connects the hollow space to an environment outside the ovenbody. The oven can also comprise an oven door operating frame adjacentto the side having the hole. The oven door operating frame can comprisea first panel comprising a first plurality of grooves that can traversea side surface of the first panel. Also, the oven door operating framecan comprise a second panel comprising a second plurality of groovesthat can traverse a side surface of the second panel, wherein the sidesurface of the first panel can face the side surface of the secondpanel. Further, the oven door operating frame can comprise an oven doorpositioned between the side surface of the first panel and the sidesurface of the second panel. The oven door can comprise a plurality ofprojections that extend from the oven door into the first plurality ofgrooves and the second plurality of grooves. Moreover, the firstplurality of grooves and the second plurality of grooves can extend in afirst direction and then turn to extend in a second direction.

According to another embodiment, a method for operating an oven door isprovided. The method can comprise moving, by a mechanical device, theoven door along a first path in a direction orthogonal to a side surfaceof an oven, the side surface comprising an entrance to the oven.Further, the method can comprise moving, by the mechanical device, theoven door along a second path in a second direction parallel to the sidesurface, wherein moving the oven door along the second path comprisesmoving the oven door past a second oven door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting split door ovenfrom a first perspective in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting splitdoor oven from a second perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting splitdoor oven from a third perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting splitdoor oven from a fourth perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 5A illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting lift assemblyfrom the first perspective in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 5B illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting first paneland second panel of a lift assembly from the fourth perspective inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting firstpanel of a lift assembly with a magnified portion in accordance with oneor more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting liftassembly from the second perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a diagram of an example, a non-limiting second panelof a lift assembly with a magnified portion in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9A illustrates a diagram of example, non-limiting drive assembliesfrom the fourth perspective in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 9B illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting driveassemblies from the second perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 9C illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting driveassemblies from the first perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 9D illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting driveassemblies from the third perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 10A illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting first ovendoor from the first perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 10B illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting firstoven door from the second perspective in accordance with the one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 10C illustrates another diagram of the example, non-limiting firstoven door from a fifth perspective in accordance with the one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 11A illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting second ovendoor from the first perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 11B illustrates a magnified portion of the example, non-limitingsecond oven door from the first perspective in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 11C illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting second ovendoor from the second perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 11D illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting second ovendoor from the third perspective in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limiting methodfor operating an oven with split oven doors in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative and is notintended to limit embodiments and/or application or uses of embodiments.Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed orimplied information presented in the preceding Background or Summarysections, or in the Detailed Description section.

One or more embodiments are now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like referenced numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea more thorough understanding of the one or more embodiments. It isevident, however, in various cases, that the one or more embodiments canbe practiced without these specific details.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting oven 100 thatcan comprise a plurality of doors. The oven 100 can comprise a firstside 102, a second side 104, a back side 106, a front side 108, and atop side 110. The first side 102, the second side 104, the back side106, the front side 108, and the top side 110 can be connected to eachother so as to form an oven body 112. The oven body 112 can define ahollow space into which an item can be placed to be baked by the oven100.

A lift assembly 114 can be attached to the oven body 112 (e.g., via thefront side 108). The lift assembly 114 can traverse the parameter of theoven body 112. For example, in various embodiments the lift assembly 114can comprise: a first panel 116 located adjacent to the front side 108and extending the length of the first side 102, a second panel 118located adjacent to the front side 108 and extending the length of thesecond side 104, and a plurality of drive assemblies (e.g., a firstdrive assembly 120 and a second drive assembly 122) located adjacent tothe front side 108 and extending across a length of the top side 110. Invarious embodiments, the second panel 118 can comprise a first counterweight tube 123 (described herein in greater detail below). In one ormore embodiments, the lift assembly 114 can extend across the entirelength of the oven 100 (e.g., from a bottom of the oven 100 to the topside 110). In some embodiments, the lift assembly 114 can extend acrossonly a portion of the oven 100 (e.g., across two-thirds, one half, onequarter, or one-third of the front side 108).

The lift assembly 114 can be connected to a plurality of doors. Invarious embodiments, the plurality of doors can comprise a first door124 and a second door 126. In one or more embodiments, the plurality ofdoors can comprise more than two doors depending on the size andfunction of the oven 100. The plurality of doors can comprise a numberof doors ranging from greater than or equal to three doors to less thanor equal to twenty doors. Operation of the plurality of doors (e.g.,first door 124 and second door 126) can be controlled by the liftassembly 114, wherein each door is connected to a respective driveassembly and guided by the first panel 116 and the second panel 118. Forinstance, an oven 100 comprising two doors can also comprise two driveassemblies while an oven 100 comprising three doors can also comprisethree drive assemblies.

For example, the first door 124 can be connected to the first driveassembly 120 and can achieve an open and/or closed position bytraversing a plane dictated by the first panel 116 and the second panel118. Also, the second door 126 can be connected to the second driveassembly 122 and can achieve an open and/or closed position bytraversing a plane dictated by the first panel 116 and the second panel118. Example instruments that can connect the plurality of doors to theplurality of drive assemblies include, but are not limited to: ropes,chains, cords, wires, a combination thereof, and/or the like.

FIG. 1 shows the oven 100 in a closed state, wherein the first door 124and the second door 126, in conjunction, form a barrier that separatesthe hollow space defined by the oven body 112 from an environmentsurrounding the oven body 112. While in a closed state, first door 124and the second door 126 can both be positioned adjacent to the frontside 108. For example, the first door 124 can be positioned adjacent tothe front side 108 and close enough to the front side 108 so as to forma seal between the first door 124 and the front side 108, wherein theseal can serve to separate an environment within the oven body 112 fromthe environment outside the oven body 112 (e.g., by preventing theenvironment within the oven body 112 from escaping through the frontside 108 and around the first door 124). Similarly, the second door 126can be positioned adjacent to the front side 108 and close enough to thefront side 108 so as to form a seal between the second door 126 and thefront side 108, wherein the seal can serve to separate the environmentwithin the oven body 112 from the environment outside the oven body 112(e.g., by preventing the environment within the oven body 112 fromescaping through the front side 108 and around the second door 126).Also, a bottom portion of the first door 124 can be positioned adjacentto a top portion of the second door 126 while each door remains adjacentto the front side 108. The bottom portion of the first door 124 can bepositioned close enough to the top portion of the second door 126 so asto form a seal between the first door 124 and the second door 126,wherein the seal can serve to separate the environment within the ovenbody 112 from the environment outside the oven body 112 (e.g., bypreventing the environment within the oven body 112 from escaping aroundthe first door 124 and/or second door 126). While the oven 100 is in aclosed state, both the first door 124 and the second door 126 arepositioned parallel to each other and along the same first plane. Asshown in FIG. 1, while the oven 100 is in a closed state, the pluralityof oven doors (e.g., the first door 124 and/or the second door 126)appear to be stacked on top of one another.

In various embodiments, the plurality of doors can comprise more thantwo doors. In such embodiments, doors in addition to the first door 124and the second door 126 can also be positioned along the first planewhen the oven 100 is in a closed state. For example, wherein theplurality of doors comprises three doors and the oven 100 is in a closedstate, each of the three door can be positioned along the first planesuch that they are adjacent to the first side 108 and adjacent to atleast one other door. In other words, an oven 100 comprising three doorscan appear to have the three doors stacked on top of each other along afirst plane adjacent to the first side 108.

In one or more embodiments, the lift assembly 114 can be manufactured asa part of the oven body 112 during manufacturing of the oven 100.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the lift assembly 114 can bemanufactured separate from the oven body 112. For example, the liftassembly 114 can be retrofitted to a previously manufactured oven body112 to produce the oven 100. One of ordinary skill in the art willreadily recognize that the oven body 112 can be manufactured to avariety of dimensions depending on the operations of the oven 100.Further, the lift assembly 114 can be manufactured to a variety of sizesdepending on the dimensions of the oven body 112.

The oven body 112 can be made of materials such as, but not limited to:aluminum, aluminum alloys, steal, iron, iron alloys, brass, brassalloys, ceramic, ceramic composites, stone, glass, plastic, acombination thereof, and/or the like. The lift assembly 114 can be madeof materials such as, but not limited to: aluminum, aluminum alloys,steal, iron, iron alloys, brass, brass alloys, ceramic, ceramiccomposites, stone, glass, plastic, a combination thereof, and/or thelike. Further, while FIG. 1 illustrates the oven body 112 having arectangular shape, other structural shapes such as squares, cylinders,and circles are also envisaged.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of the example, non-limiting oven 100 froma second perspective and in a fully open state. Repetitive descriptionof like elements employed in other embodiments described herein isomitted for sake of brevity. As shown in FIG. 2, the hollow spacedefined by the oven body 112 can be accessed via a hole in the frontside 108 of the oven 100. When the oven 100 is in a fully open state,the hollow space can be accessible to the environment outside the ovenbody 112 via the hole in the front side 108. Also, when the oven 100 isin a fully open state, the plurality of doors can be positioned so as tonot block the hole in the front side 108.

In various embodiments, the oven 100 can achieve a fully opened state bymoving each door in the plurality of doors. For example, the first door124 (not visible in FIG. 2) can move to a position above the hole in thefont side 108. In other words, the first door 124 can move along a pathdictated by the lift assembly 114 from a first position covering atleast a portion of the hole in the front side 108 when the oven 100 isin a closed state (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1) to a second position notcompletely covering the hole in the front side 108 when the oven 100 isin a fully open state (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2). Similarly, the seconddoor 126 can move to a position next to, and adjacent to, the first door124 when the oven 100 is in a fully open state. In other words, thesecond door 126 can move along a path dictated by the lift assembly 114from third position covering at least a portion of the hole in the frontside 108 when the oven 100 is in a closed state (e.g., as shown inFIG. 1) to a fourth position not completely covering the hole in thefront side 108 when the oven 100 is in a fully open state (as shown inFIG. 2).

Thus, the oven 100 can achieve a fully open state by moving each door inthe plurality of doors (e.g., the first door 124 and the second door126) to new positions that do not impede, or substantially reduceimpeding of, access to the hole in the front side 108 of the oven 100.Whereas when the oven 100 is in a closed state the plurality of doorsare aligned end-to-end along the first plane, when the oven 100 is in afully open state the plurality of doors are aligned side-to-side along asecond plane that is perpendicular to the first plane.

The oven 100 can also achieve a partially open state, wherein the oven100 moves fewer than all the doors in the plurality of doors. Forexample, wherein the oven 100 comprises the first door 124 and thesecond door 126, the first door 124 can be moved to the second positionwhile the second door 126 remains in the third position as describedherein, or the second door 126 can be moved to the fourth position whilethe first door 124 remains in the first position as described herein. Inother words, to achieve a partially open state, the oven 100 can moveless than all the available doors in the plurality of doors in order togrant partial access to the hole in the front side 108. The partialaccess granted by the partially open state is less than the full accessgranted by the fully open state.

In order to achieve a partially open state, the oven 100 can move acertain number of available doors M in accordance with the followingformula: M=D−N. Wherein D can represent the total number of availabledoors in the plurality of doors, and N can represent an integer greaterthan zero and less than D. For example, wherein the plurality of doorscomprises two doors (e.g., the first door 124 and the second door 126),the number of doors that can move M to achieve a partially open state isone (e.g., either the first door 124 or the second door 126) because thetotal number of available doors D is two and the only integer N greaterthan zero and less than two is one. In another example, wherein theplurality of doors comprises three doors, the number of doors that canbe moved M to achieve a partially open state is one door or two doorsbecause the total number of available doors D is three and there are twointegers N greater than zero and less than three (i.e., the integers oneand two).

In various embodiments, the oven 100 (e.g., via the lift assembly 114)can move each door of the plurality of doors comprising the oven 100simultaneously, consecutively, and/or independently. Also, in one ormore embodiments, the oven 100 (e.g., via the lift assembly 114) canmove each door of the plurality of doors at the same speed. In anotherembodiment, the oven 100 (e.g., via the lift assembly 114) can move eachdoor of the plurality of doors at a different speed. For example, thelift assembly 114 can move the first door 124 at a first speed and thesecond door 126 at a second speed. In another example, the lift assembly114 can move both the first door 124 and the second door 126 at a firstspeed and move a third door at a second speed.

In one or more embodiments, operation of the lift assembly 114, andthereby movement of the plurality of doors, can be controlled by anelectrical box 202. FIG. 2 shows the electrical box 202 positionedalongside the second side 104 of the oven body 112; however, otherpositions (e.g., alongside the first side 102 and/or alongside the backside 106) are also envisaged. The electrical box 202 can be operablycoupled to one or more motors that power the plurality of driveassemblies (e.g., the first drive assembly 120 and/or the second driveassembly 122). Further, in various embodiments the first panel 116 cancomprise a second counter weight tube 204 (described herein in greaterdetail below).

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of the example, non-limiting oven 100 froma third perspective. Repetitive description of like elements employed inother embodiments described herein is omitted for sake of brevity. FIG.3 shows that in various embodiments the lift assembly 114 extends pastthe top side 110 of the oven body 112. In other words, the first panel116 and the second panel 118 can extend past the top side 110 such thatthe plurality of drive assemblies (e.g., the first drive assembly 120and the second drive assembly 122) can be positioned above the oven body112.

In one or more embodiments, the plurality of oven doors are liftedvertically to achieve a partially and/or fully open state. Thus, inorder to ensure that each door of the plurality of doors can be liftedclear of the hole in the front side 108 of the oven 100, the pluralityof drive assemblies can be positioned above the oven body 112 so as toprovide adequate space between the drive assemblies and the hole in thefront side 108 for the doors to be positioned into. By covering the holein the front side 108 with a plurality of doors as oppose to a singledoor (e.g., as done by conventional techniques) each door can have asmall height than would be required by a single door; thus, the spacebetween hole in the front side 108 and the drive assemblies can bereduced, the plurality of drive assemblies can be positioned closer tothe oven body 112, and the overall height of the oven 100 can be smallerthan conventional designs. The space saving advantages of the oven 100described herein can be achieved at least in part by the lift assembly's114 ability to rearrange the plurality of doors from being arrangedend-to-end along a first plane in a closed state to being arrangedside-by-side along a second plane, which is orthogonal to the firstplane, in an open state.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of the example, non-limiting oven 100 froma fourth perspective. Repetitive description of like elements employedin other embodiments described herein is omitted for sake of brevity.The fourth perspective provides a view looking downward onto the top ofthe oven 100.

FIG. 5A illustrates a diagram of an example, non-limiting lift assembly114 from the first perspective. Repetitive description of like elementsemployed in other embodiments described herein is omitted for sake ofbrevity. In order to clearly illustrate the features of the first panel116 and the second panel 118, FIG. 5A does not show the plurality ofdoors that can be positioned between the first panel 116 and the secondpanel 118. The first panel 116 can comprise a plurality of protrusionsextending from a surface of the first panel 116 towards the second panel118. The protrusions can form a plurality of grooves that can comprise:a first groove 502, a second groove 504, a third groove 506, and afourth groove 508. The plurality of grooves can guide the path of theplurality of doors along the lift assembly 114 as the doors move betweenopen and closed positions. FIG. 5A shows the first panel 116 comprisingfour grooves; however, additional grooves in excess of the fourillustrated grooves are also envisaged. As the number of doorscomprising the plurality of doors increases so too can the number ofgrooves comprising the first panel 116.

In various embodiments, the first panel 116 can comprise two grooves foreach door of the plurality of doors. For example, the first door 124 canutilize the first groove 502 and the second groove 504 while the seconddoor 126 can utilize the third groove 506 and the fourth groove 508. Inanother example, wherein the oven 100 comprises an additional thirddoor, the first panel 116 can comprise a fifth groove 510 and a sixthgroove 512 to guide the path of the third door.

FIG. 5B illustrates a diagram of the example, non-limiting first panel116 and second panel 118 from the same fourth perspective shown in FIG.4. Repetitive description of like elements employed in other embodimentsdescribed herein is omitted for sake of brevity. FIG. 5B illustrates thefirst panel 116 and the second panel 118 from the perspective of viewingdown on the features. In order to clearly illustrate the features of thefirst panel 116 and the second panel 118, FIG. 5B does not show theplurality of doors that can be positioned between the first panel 116and the second panel 118.

FIG. 5B shows that the second panel 118 can mirror the protrusionsextending from the first panel 116. In various embodiments, the secondpanel 118 can comprise a plurality of protrusions extending from thesurface of the second panel 118 towards the first panel 116. Theprotrusions on the second panel 118 can correspond to the protrusions onthe first panel 116 to form a plurality of grooves on the second panel118 that correspond to the plurality of grooves on the first panel 116.The plurality of grooves on the second panel 118 can comprise: a fifthgroove 510, a sixth groove 512, a seventh groove 514, and an eighthgroove 516. FIG. 5B shows the second panel 118 comprising four grooves;however, additional grooves in excess of the four illustrated groovesare also envisaged. As the number of doors comprising the plurality ofdoors increases so too can the number of grooves comprising the secondpanel 118.

In various embodiments, the second panel 118 can comprise two groovesfor each door of the plurality of doors. For example, the first groove502 and the second groove 504 can work in conjunction with the fifthgroove 510 and the sixth groove 512 to guide the first door 124. Also,the third groove 506 and the fourth groove 508 can work in conjunctionwith the seventh groove 514 and the eighth groove 516 to guide thesecond door 126. In another example, wherein the oven 100 comprises athird door, the second panel 118 can comprise six total grooves inpositions corresponding to six total grooves in the first panel 116.

FIG. 5B also shows the relative positioning of the first counter weighttube 123 and the second counter weight tube 204. In various embodiments,the second counter weight tube 204 can be positioned alongside the firstpanel 116 and near the oven body 112, whereas the first counter weighttube 123 can be positioned alongside the second panel 118 and furtherfrom the oven body 112 that the second counter weight tube 204. Thus,the first counter weight tube 123 and the second counter weight tube 204can be arranged such that the tubes do not align with each other. Theoffset arrangement of the first counter weight tube 123 and the secondcounter weight tube 204 can be dictated by the arrangement of the firstdrive assembly 120 and the second drive assembly 122.

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram of the example, non-limiting first panel116. Repetitive description of like elements employed in otherembodiments described herein is omitted for sake of brevity. FIG. 6shows that the first groove 502 and the second groove 504 extend fromthe top of the first panel 116, near the first drive assembly 120,towards the bottom of the first panel 116. Also, the first groove 502and the second groove 504 traverse only a portion of the first panel 116without reaching the bottom of the first panel 116. FIG. 6 additionallyshows that the grooves extend in a first direction 601, and then turn ina second direction 602. Shown for additional clarity is a thirddirection 603 opposite to the second direction 602 and a fourthdirection 604 opposite to the first direction 601. In variousembodiments, the first groove 502 and the second groove 504 onlytraverse the portion of the first panel 116 that guides the movement ofthe first door 124. For example, in one or more embodiments only the tophalf of the first panel 116 can guide the movement of the first door 124because the first door 124 reaches its closed position half way down thefirst panel 116 and its open position at the top of the first panel 116;thus, the first groove 502 and the second groove 504 only traverses thetop half of the first panel 116.

The length to which the first groove 502 and the second groove 504extend down the first panel 116 can depend on the height of theplurality of doors, the number of doors comprising the plurality ofdoors, and/or the size of the hole in the front side 108. For example,as the number of doors increases, the percentage of the hole that eachdoor covers can decrease, and thereby the overall length of the firstgroove 502 and the second groove 504 can decrease (e.g., the firstgroove 502 and the second groove 504 could extend a quarter of thelength of the first panel 116). In various embodiments, the length ofthe first groove 502 and the second groove 504 is equivalent to thedistance between a point A and a point B, wherein point A is theposition of the top of the first door 124 when the first door 124 is inan open position and point B is the bottom of the first door 124 whenthe first door 124 is in a closed position. Also, the fifth groove 510and the sixth groove 512 can mirror the first groove 502 and the secondgroove 504 on the second panel 118.

FIG. 6 also shows that the third groove 506 and the fourth groove 508can extend down the first panel 116, from near the first drive assembly120, past the first groove 502 and the second groove 504. Further, thefourth groove 508 can be longer than the third groove 506. The thirdgroove 506 and the fourth groove 508 can both change direction from afirst direction running parallel to the oven body 112 to a seconddirection running orthogonal to the oven body 112. For example, FIG. 6provides a magnified view of the third groove's 506 change in direction.In various embodiments, each of the four grooves in the first panel 116can run parallel with each other down the first panel 116 until thethird groove 506 and the fourth groove 508 change direction. Also, thethird groove 506 and the fourth groove 508 can change direction towardsthe oven body 112. Further, the seventh groove 514 and the eighth groove516 can mirror the third groove 506 and the fourth groove 508 in thesecond panel 118.

The third groove 506 and the fourth groove 508 can guide the movement ofthe second door 126. Whereas the first groove 502 and the second groove504 can guide the first door 124 along a first plane; the third groove506 and the fourth groove 508 can guide the second door 126 between thefirst plane and a second plane. For example, when the oven 100 ischanging from a fully open state to a closed state, the first groove502, the second groove 504, the fifth groove 510, and the sixth groove512 can serve to guide the first door 124 from the second position (asdescribed above) at the top of the lift assembly 114 straight down tothe first position covering a portion of the hole in the front side 108.Also, when the oven 100 is changing from a fully open state to a closedstate, the third groove 506, the fourth groove 508, the seventh groove514, and the eighth groove 516 can serve to guide the second door 126from the fourth position at the top of the lift assembly 114, andfurther from the oven body 112 than the second position, down the liftassembly 114 past the first position and then towards the oven body 112to the third position (as described above) covering a portion of thehole in the front side 108. Thereby, the third groove 506, the fourthgroove 508, the seventh groove 514, and the eighth groove 516 can beconfigured to guide the second door 126 around the first door 124 whentransitioning the oven 100 between open and closed states.

In various embodiments, the oven 100 can comprise more than two doors,in which the first panel 116 and the second panel 118 can compriseadditional grooves, and said additional grooves can extend further inboth the first and second directions than the third groove 506, thefourth groove 508, the seventh groove 514, and the eighth groove 516.For example, wherein the oven 100 comprises three doors, the additionalgrooves can guide the third door around both the second door 126 and thefirst door 124 when transitioning the oven 100 between open and closedstates.

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of the example, non-limiting lift assembly114 from the second perspective. Repetitive description of like elementsemployed in other embodiments described herein is omitted for sake ofbrevity. FIG. 7 illustrates a first counter weight 702 and a secondcounter weight 704 with dashed lines. The dashed lines indicate that thefirst counter weight 702 and the second counter weight 704 wouldnormally be hidden from view because they reside in the first counterweight tube 123 and the second counter weight tube 204.

In one or more embodiments, the first counter weight tube 123 can extendto the bottom of the lift assembly 114 while the second counter weighttube 204 can extend alongside just a portion of the first panel 116. Invarious embodiments, the lift assembly 114 can comprise more than twocounter weight tubes. For example, the lift assembly 114 can comprise anequivalent number of counter weight tubes and doors.

FIG. 8 illustrates a diagram of the example, non-limiting second panel118 from a side view. Repetitive description of like elements employedin other embodiments described herein is omitted for sake of brevity.FIG. 8 shows a magnified portion of the second panel 118 including thefirst counter weight tube 123 and the first counter weight 702. Thefirst counter weight 702 is illustrated with dashed lines to indicatethat the first counter weight 702 can normally be hidden from view bythe first counter weight tube 123.

The first counter weight 702 can be connected to the second driveassembly 122 via one or more connecters. Similarly, the second counterweight 704 can be connected to the first drive assembly 120 via one ormore connectors. The connecters can include, but are not limited to:wires, ropes, cords, chains, a combination thereof, and/or the like. Invarious embodiments, the first counter weight 702 can move along thelength of the first counter weight tube 123 to facilitate moving thesecond door 126, and the second counter weight 704 can move along thelength of the second counter weight tube 204 to facilitate moving thefirst door 124.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the first counter weight 702 and the secondcounter weight 704 as having a cylindrical shape, however otherstructural shapes (e.g., square shapes, circular shapes, rectangularshapes, cone shapes, and/or the like) are also envisaged. Also, whilethe first counter weight tube 123 and the second counter weight tube 204are depicted as having a hollow rectangular shape, other structuralshapes (e.g., square shapes, circular shapes, rectangular shapes, coneshapes, and/or the like) are also envisaged depending on the structuralshape of the first counter weight 702 and the second counter weight 704.Further, the oven 100 can comprise additional counter weights dependingon the number of doors in the plurality of doors.

The first counter weight 702 can be connected to the second door 126 viathe second drive assembly 122 and the one or more connectors. The secondcounter weight 704 can be connected to the first door 124 via the firstdrive assembly 120 and the one or more connectors. The distance eachcounter weight (e.g., first counter weight 702 and/or second counterweight 704) travels, and thereby the length of each counter weight tube(e.g., first counter weight tube 123 and second counter weight tube204), can depend on the distance each door (e.g., first door 124 andsecond door 126) travels along the lift assembly 114 between open andclosed positions.

In various embodiments, the first counter weight 702 and the secondcounter weight 704 can comprise the same material and/or have the sameweight. In one or more embodiments, the first counter weight 702 and thesecond counter weight 704 can comprise different materials and/or havedifferent weights. Example materials comprising the first counter weight702 and/or the second counter weight 704 can include, but are notlimited to: aluminum, steel, iron, tungsten, stone, cement, a ceramiccomposite, a metal, a metal alloy, a combination thereof, and/or thelike. The weight of the first counter weight 702 and/or the secondcounter weight 704 can depend on the weight of the first door 124 and/orthe weight of the second door 126. For example, the weight of thecounter weights with regard to a respective door associated with acounter weight via a drive assembly (e.g., the weight of the firstcounter weight 702 with respect to the weight of the second door 126and/or the weight of the second counter weight 704 with respect to theweight of the first door 124) can range from about 50 percent of theweight of the door to about 300 percent of the weight of the door. Invarious embodiments, the lift assembly 114 can comprise more than twocounter weights. For example, the lift assembly 114 can comprise anequivalent number of counter weights and doors.

FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate diagrams of the example, non-limiting first driveassembly 120 and second drive assembly 122 from multiple perspectives.Repetitive description of like elements employed in other embodimentsdescribed herein is omitted for sake of brevity. In order to illustratethe features of the plurality of drive assemblies with greater clarity,the one or more connectors connecting the first drive assembly 120and/or the second drive assembly 122 to the first door 124, the seconddoor 126, the first counter weight 702, and/or the second counter weight704 are not shown; however, said one or more connectors interact withthe plurality of drive assemblies via the plurality of gears comprisingeach drive assembly.

In various embodiments, the plurality of drive assemblies can comprisetwo drive assemblies (e.g., the first drive assembly 120 and the seconddrive assembly 122). The first drive assembly 120 can comprise a firstmotor 902, a first gear 904, a second gear 906, a third gear 908, and afourth gear 910. The first motor 902 can drive the first gear 904, thesecond gear 906, the third gear 908, and the fourth gear 910 to move thefirst door 124 between multiple positions to achieve open and/or closedstates. For example, the first motor 902 can directly drive the firstgear 904 via a connector (e.g., a chain). The first gear 904 can beconnected to the second gear 906 and the third gear 908 via a firstshaft 912. As the first motor 902 rotates the first gear 904, the firstgear 904 can rotate the first shaft 912. The first shaft 912 can beconnected to the second gear 906 and the third gear 908. Thus, rotationof the first shaft 912 can cause the second gear 906 and the third gear908 to also rotate. The second gear 906 can be connected, via one ormore connectors, to one side of the first door 124 (e.g., the left sideof the first door 124). As the second gear 906 rotates, the side of thefirst door 124 can move towards or away from the second gear 906. Thethird gear 908 can be connected to the fourth gear 910 via one or moreconnectors (e.g., a chain). Rotation of the third gear 908 can cause thefourth gear 910 to rotate. The fourth gear 910 can be connected, via oneor more connectors, to another side of the first door 124 (e.g., theright side of the first door 124). As the fourth gear 910 rotates, theother side of the first door 124 can move towards or away from thefourth gear 910.

The second drive assembly 122 can comprise a second motor 914, a fifthgear 916, a sixth gear 918, a seventh gear 920, and an eighth gear 922.The second motor 914 can drive the fifth gear 916, the sixth gear 918,the seventh gear 920, and the eighth gear 922 to move the second door126 between multiple positions to achieve open and/or closed states. Forexample, the second motor 914 can directly drive the fifth gear 916 viaa connector (e.g., a chain). The fifth gear 916 can be connected to thesixth gear 918 and the seventh gear 920 via a second shaft 924. As thesecond motor 914 rotates the fifth gear 916, the fifth gear 916 canrotate the second shaft 924. The second shaft 924 can be connected tothe sixth gear 918 and the seventh gear 920. Thus, rotation of thesecond shaft 924 can cause the sixth gear 918 and the seventh gear 920to also rotate. The sixth gear 918 can be connected, via one or moreconnectors, to one side of the second door 126 (e.g., the left side ofthe second door 126). As the sixth gear 918 rotates, the side of thesecond door 126 can move towards or away from the sixth gear 918. Theseventh gear 920 can be connected to the eighth gear 922 via one or moreconnectors (e.g., a chain). Rotation of the seventh gear 920 can causethe eighth gear 922 to rotate. The eighth gear 922 can be connected, viaone or more connectors, to another side of the second door 126 (e.g.,the right side of the second door 126). As the eighth gear 922 rotates,the other side of the second door 126 can move towards or away from theeighth gear 922.

In various embodiments, the second gear 906 and the third gear 908 canalso be connected, via one or more connectors, to the second counterweight 704. Also, the sixth gear 918 and the seventh gear 920 can beconnected, via one or more connectors, to the first counter weight 702.The first motor 902 and the second motor 914 can have the same designsor different designs. Further, the type and/or power of the first motor902 and the second motor 914 can vary depending on the weight of theplurality of doors and/or the desired speed at which the plurality ofdoors move between open and closed positions. For example, the firstmotor 902 and the second motor 914 can comprise a type of motor thatgenerates 2-5 horsepower. In one or more embodiments, each driveassembly of the plurality of drive assemblies (e.g., the first driveassembly 120 and the second drive assembly 122) can be operablyconnected to the electrical box 202. The electrical box 202 can enable auser of the oven 100 to control the motors comprising the plurality ofdrive assemblies (e.g., the first motor 902 and/or the second motor914), thereby controlling movement of the plurality of doors (e.g., thefirst door 124 and/or the second door 126). In one or more embodiments,one or more of the motors (e.g., the first motor 902 and/or the secondmotor 914) can be connected to a hand-crank to facilitate manualoperation of the motor, and thereby manual operation of the gears.

In one or more embodiments, the number of drive assemblies comprisingthe plurality of drive assemblies can be equivalent to the number ofdoors comprising the plurality of doors. For example, wherein the oven100 comprises three doors the lift assembly 114 can comprise three driveassemblies, wherein the third drive assembly can have an equivalentstructure to the first drive assembly 120 and the second drive assembly122 shown in FIGS. 9A-D. In other words, each drive assembly in theplurality of drive assemblies can move a respective door of theplurality of doors (e.g., facilitated by a third counter weight) toachieve open and/or closed states.

FIG. 10 illustrates a diagram on the example, non-limiting first door124 from multiple perspectives. FIG. 10A illustrates the first door 124from the first perspective utilized in FIG. 1. FIG. 10B illustrates thefirst door 124 from the second perspective utilized in FIG. 2. FIG. 10Cillustrates the first door 124 from a fifth perspective, wherein thefifth perspective is opposite the third perspective utilized in FIG. 3.Repetitive description of like elements employed in other embodimentsdescribed herein is omitted for sake of brevity.

The first door 124 can comprise a first front surface 1002, a first backsurface 1004, a first side surface 1006, a second side surface 1008, afirst top surface 1010, and a first bottom surface 112. When the firstdoor 124 is positioned in the lift assembly 114, between the first panel116 and the second panel 118, the first front surface 1002 can face awayfrom the oven body 112. Also, when the first door 124 is positioned inthe lift assembly 114, between the first panel 116 and the second panel118, the first back surface 1004 can face towards the oven body 112.

The first top surface 1010 can comprise a plurality of connection tabs.For example, the first top surface 1010 can comprise a first connectiontab 1014 near the first side surface 1006, and a second connection tab1016 near the second side surface 1008. The plurality of connection tabscan be connected to the plurality of drive assemblies via one or moreconnectors. For example, the first connection tab 1014 can be connected(e.g., via a chain) to the fourth gear 910 of the first drive assembly120. Further, the second connection tab 1016 can be connected (e.g., viaa chain) to the second gear 906 of the first drive assembly 120. Invarious embodiments, the first connection tab 1014 can also bepositioned near the first back surface 1004 in order to align with theposition of the fourth gear 910. Also, the second connection tab 1016can further be positioned near the first front surface 1002 in order toalign with the position of the second gear 906.

The first side surface 1006 and the second side surface 1008 cancomprise a plurality of guidance projections to guide the movement ofthe first door 124 along the lift assembly 114. The plurality ofguidance projections can extend from the first side surface 1006 and/orthe second side surface 1008 away from the first door 124. In variousembodiments, the first side surface 1006 can comprise a first guidanceprojection 1018 and a second guidance projection 1020. The second sidesurface 1008 can comprise a third guidance projection 1022 and a fourthguidance projection 1024. The plurality of guidance projections can bepositioned so as to align with the plurality of grooves comprising thefirst panel 116 and/or the second panel 118. Further, the each guidanceprojection of the plurality of guidance projections can be shaped so asto fit inside a respective groove of the plurality of grooves.

For example, the first guidance projection 1018 can be positioned nearthe first top surface 1010 and first back surface 1004 so as to alignwith the fifth groove 510, located in the second panel 118, when thefirst door 124 is positioned in the lift assembly 114. Similarly, thethird guidance projection 1022 can be positioned near the first topsurface 1010 and the first back surface 1004 so as to align with thefirst groove 502, located in the first panel 116, when the first door124 is positioned in the lift assembly 114. Also, the second guidanceprojection 1020 can be positioned near the first bottom surface 1012 andthe first front surface 1002 so as to align with the sixth groove 512,located in the second panel 118, when the first door 124 is positionedin the lift assembly 114. Similarly, the fourth guidance projection 1024can be positioned near the first bottom surface 1012 and the first frontsurface 1002 so as to align with the second groove 504, located in thefirst panel 116, when the first door 124 is position in the liftassembly 114.

The dimensions of the first door 124 can vary depending on the number ofdoors comprising the plurality of doors and/or the size of the hole inthe front side 108. For example, the height of the first door 124 canrange from, but not limited to, greater than or equal 10 inches and lessthan or equal to 10 feet. The width of the first door 124 can rangefrom, but not limited to, greater than or equal 10 inches and less thanor equal to 10 feet. The depth of the first door 124 can range from, butnot limited to, greater than or equal 0.5 inches and less than or equal36 inches. The weight of the first door 124 can range from, but notlimited to, greater than or equal to 10 pounds and less than or equal to2,000 pounds. In some embodiments, the first door 124 can be made fromthe same materials as the oven body 112. In one or more embodiments, thefirst door 124 can be made from different materials than the oven body112. Example materials comprising the first door 124 can comprise, butare not limited to: aluminum, aluminum alloys, steal, iron, iron alloys,brass, brass alloys, ceramic, ceramic composites, stone, glass, plastic,a combination thereof, and/or the like.

FIGS. 11A-D illustrates a diagram of the example, non-limiting seconddoor 126 from multiple perspectives. FIGS. 11A-B illustrate the seconddoor 126 from the first perspective utilized in FIG. 1. FIG. 11Cillustrates the second door 126 from the second perspective utilized inFIG. 2. FIG. 11D illustrates the second door 126 from a fifthperspective, wherein the fifth perspective is opposite the thirdperspective utilized in FIG. 3. Repetitive description of like elementsemployed in other embodiments described herein is omitted for sake ofbrevity.

The second door 126 can comprise a second front surface 1102, a secondback surface 1104, a third side surface 1106, a fourth side surface1108, and a second top surface 1110, a second bottom surface 1112. Whenthe second door 126 is positioned in the lift assembly 114, between thefirst panel 116 and the second panel 118, the second front surface 1102can face away from the oven body 112. Also, when the second door 126 ispositioned in the lift assembly 114, between the first panel 116 and thesecond panel 118, the second back surface 1104 can face towards the ovenbody 112.

In various embodiments, the second door 126 can further comprise aconnection latch 1114. The connection latch 1114 can comprise a firstarm 1116 and a second arm 1118. The first arm 1116 and the second arm1118 can connect the connection latch 1114 to the second door 126 (e.g.,to the second front surface 1102). Also, the connection latch 1114 cancomprise a top panel 1120 that connects the first arm 1116 and thesecond arm 1118. While maintaining its attachment to the second door126, the connection latch 1114 can move towards and away from the secondfront surface 1102 as the second door 126 traverses the lift assembly114.

FIG. 11A shows the connection latch 1114 in position A, wherein theconnection latch 1114 has moved towards the second front surface 1102such that the top panel 1120 is positioned directly above the second topsurface 1110. FIG. 11B shows magnified portion of the connection latch1114 while it is in position B, wherein the connection latch 1114 hasmoved away from the second front surface 1102.

The top panel 1120 can comprise a plurality of connection tabs. Forexample, the top panel 1120 can comprise a third connection tab 1122near the third side surface 1106, and a fourth connection tab 1124 nearthe fourth side surface 1108. The plurality of connection tabs can beconnected to the plurality of drive assemblies via one or moreconnectors. For example, the third connection tab 1122 can be connected(e.g., via a chain) to the sixth gear 918 of the second drive assembly122. Further, the fourth connection tab 1124 can be connected (e.g., viaa chain) to the eighth gear 922 of the second drive assembly 122.

The third side surface 1106, the fourth side surface 1108, the first arm1116, and the second arm 1118 can comprise a plurality of guidanceprojections to guide the movement of the second door 126 along the liftassembly 114. The plurality of guidance projections can extend from thethird side surface 1106, the fourth side surface 1108, the first arm1116, and/or the second arm 1118 away from the second door 126. Invarious embodiments, the third side surface 1106 can comprise a fifthguidance projection 1128 and a sixth guidance projection 1130. Thefourth side surface 1108 can comprise a seventh guidance projection 1132and an eighth guidance projection 1134. The first arm 1116 can comprisea ninth guidance projection 1136, and the second arm 1118 can comprise atenth guidance projection 1138. The plurality of guidance projectionscan be positioned so as to align with the plurality of groovescomprising the first panel 116 and/or the second panel 118. Further, theeach guidance projection of the plurality of guidance projections can beshaped so as to fit inside a respective groove of the plurality ofgrooves.

For example, the fifth guidance projection 1128 can be positioned nearthe second top surface 1110 and second back surface 1104 so as to alignwith the seventh groove 514, located in the second panel 118, when thesecond door 126 is positioned in the lift assembly 114. Similarly, theseventh guidance projection 1132 can be positioned near the second topsurface 1110 and the second back surface 1104 so as to align with thethird groove 506, located in the first panel 116, when the second door126 is positioned in the lift assembly 114. The sixth guidanceprojection 1130 can extend from the third side surface 1106 and bepositioned near the second bottom surface 1112 and the second frontsurface 1102 so as to align with the eighth groove 516, located in thesecond panel 118, when the second door 126 is positioned in the liftassembly 114. Also, the ninth guidance projection 1136 can extend fromthe first arm 1116 and be positioned so as to align with the eighthgroove 516, located in the second panel 118, when the second door 126 ispositioned in the lift assembly 114. Similarly, the eighth guidanceprojection 1134 can be positioned near the second bottom surface 1112and the second front surface 1102 so as to align with the fourth groove508, located in the first panel 116, when the second door 126 isposition in the lift assembly 114. Also, the tenth guidance projection1138 can extend from the second arm 1118 so as to align with the fourthgroove 508, located in the second panel 118, when the second door 126 ispositioned in the lift assembly 114.

The dimensions of the second door 126 can vary depending on the numberof doors comprising the plurality of doors and/or the size of the holein the front side 108. For example, the height of the second door 126can range from, but not limited to, greater than or equal 10 inches andless than or equal to 10 feet. The width of the second door 126 canrange from, but not limited to, greater than or equal 10 inches and lessthan or equal to 10 feet. The depth of the second door 126 can rangefrom, but not limited to, greater than or equal 0.5 inches and less thanor equal 36 inches. The weight of the second door 126 can range from,but not limited to, greater than or equal to 10 pounds and less than orequal to 2,000 pounds. In some embodiments, the second door 126 can bemade from the same materials as the oven body 112. In one or moreembodiments, the second door 126 can be made from different materialsthan the oven body 112. Example materials comprising the second door 126can comprise, but are not limited to: aluminum, aluminum alloys, steal,iron, iron alloys, brass, brass alloys, ceramic, ceramic composites,stone, glass, plastic, a combination thereof, and/or the like.

In various embodiments, the first drive assembly 120 can lift and/orlower the first door 124 along the lift assembly 114 to achieve openand/or closed states. The first groove 502, the second groove 504, thefifth groove 510, and the sixth groove 512 can guide the path of thefirst door 124 as it traverses the lift assembly 114 via interactionwith the first guidance projection 1018, second guidance projection1020, third guidance projection 1022, and fourth guidance projection1024. In one or more embodiments, the first door 124 can remain in afirst vertical plane, moving up and down.

In various embodiments, the second drive assembly 122 can lift and/orlower the second door 126 along the lift assembly 114 to achieve openand/or closed states. The third groove 506, fourth groove 508, seventhgroove 514, and eighth groove 516 can guide the path of the second door126 as it traverses the lift assembly 114 via interaction with the fifthguidance projection 1128, sixth guidance projection 1130, seventhguidance projection 1132, eighth guidance projection 1134, ninthguidance projection 1136, and tenth guidance projection 1138.

In one or more embodiments, as the second drive assembly 122 lifts thesecond door 126 from a closed position (e.g., the third positiondescribed herein above and shown in FIG. 1) the third groove 506, fourthgroove 508, seventh groove 514, and eighth groove 516 can transition thesecond door 126 from the first vertical plane, which the first door 124is located, to a second vertical plane located further from the ovenbody 112 than the first vertical plane. By transitioning the second door126 to the second vertical plane, the lift assembly 114 can guide thesecond door 126 around the first door 124 no matter the first door's 124position. For example, when the second door 126 is in a closed statelocated under the first door 124 (e.g., the third position describedherein above and shown in FIG. 1) the connection latch 1114 can be inposition B (e.g. shown in FIG. 11B) with the ninth guidance projection1136 and the tenth guidance projection 1138 remaining in the portion ofthe fourth groove 508 and the eighth groove 516 that has not yet turnedtowards the oven body 112. Thus, the ninth guidance projection 1136 andthe tenth guidance projection 1138 constantly remain the second verticalplane, thereby keeping the third connection tab 1122 and the fourthconnection tab 1124 aligned with the second drive assembly 122 despitethe second door's 126 transition between vertical planes. As the seconddoor 126 is lifted from the closed state (e.g., the third positiondescribed herein above and shown in FIG. 1), the third groove 506,fourth groove 508, seventh groove 514, and eighth groove 516 lead thefifth guidance projection 1128, sixth guidance projection 1130, seventhguidance projection 1132, and eighth guidance projection 1134 away fromthe oven body 112, off the first vertical plane, and onto the secondvertical plane whereon the fourth groove 508 and the eighth groove 516lead the second door 126 up towards the second drive assembly 122. Also,as the second door 126 moves from the first vertical plane to the secondvertical plane, the connection latch 1114 transitions to position A(e.g., shown in FIG. 11A).

In one or more embodiments, the oven 100 can comprise more than twodoors. For example, the plurality of doors managed by the lift assembly114 can comprise three or more doors. A third door can be positionedbelow the second door 126 when the oven 100 is in a closed state. Also,the third door can have equivalent features to those comprising thesecond door 126. As the third door moves between an open state and aclose state, the lift assembly 114 can guide the third door (and anyother additional doors) around the second door 126 and the first door124 similar to how the second door 126 is guided around the first door124.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart of an example, non-limiting method 1200for operating one or more doors comprising the oven 100. Repetitivedescription of like elements employed in other embodiments describedherein is omitted for sake of brevity. At 1202 the method can comprise,moving, via a mechanical device (e.g., first motor 902 and/or secondmotor 914) a door (e.g., the second door 126) along a first path awayfrom an entrance (e.g., a hole in the front side 108) to the oven 100(e.g., via the second drive assembly 122). At 1204 the method 1200 canfurther comprise guiding the door (e.g., the second door 126) in adirection orthogonal to the oven side (e.g., the front side 108) havingthe oven entrance (e.g., via the third groove 506, the fourth groove508, the seventh groove 514, and the eighth groove 516). The door (e.g.,the second door 126) can be moved in the orthogonal direction for adistance at least greater than the width of another door (e.g., thefirst door 124) comprising the oven 100.

At 1206 the method 1200 can then comprise moving the door (e.g., thesecond door 126) along a second path parallel to the oven side (e.g.,the front side 108) having the oven entrance (e.g., via the third groove506, the fourth groove 508, the seventh groove 514, and the eighthgroove 516). The door (e.g., the second door 126) can be moved in theparallel direction until the door no longer covers the oven entrance. At1208 the method 1200 can further comprise moving the door (e.g., thesecond door 126) past the other door (e.g., the first door 124). Invarious embodiments, moving the door (e.g., the second door 126) alongthe second path can comprise lifting the door above the oven entrance.The method 1200 can facilitate moving the door (e.g., the second door126) from the third position, described herein and shown in FIG. 1, tothe fourth position, described herein and shown in FIG. 2.

In various embodiments, the method 1200 can also comprise moving theother door (e.g., the first door 124) along a third path (e.g., definedby the first groove 502, the second groove 504, the fifth groove 510,and the sixth groove 512). The third path can also be parallel to theoven side having the oven entrance. The method 1200 can facilitatemoving the other door (e.g., the first door 124) from the firstposition, described herein and shown in FIG. 1, to the second position,described herein and shown in FIG. 2. Further, the method 1200 cancomprise moving the door and/or the other door in any direction alongthe first path, the second path, and/or the third path. For example, themethod 1200 can comprise moving the door (e.g., the second door 126) ina first direction down an operating frame (e.g., lift assembly 114) andin a second direction towards an oven (e.g., oven body 112); and themethod 1200 can comprise moving the door (e.g., the second door 126) ina third direction away from the oven (e.g., the oven body 112) and upthe an operating frame (e.g., lift assembly 114). Similarly, the method1200 can comprise moving the other door (e.g., the first door 124) inthe first direction, and the method 1200 can comprise moving the otherdoor (e.g., the first door 124) in the fourth direction.

The method 1200 can comprise move the door (e.g., the second door 126)and/or the other door (e.g., the first door 124) to various positionsalong an operating frame (e.g., lift assembly 114) in order to achieveopen and/or closed oven states. Since, the method 1200 can comprisemoving multiple doors that cover an oven entrance, as oppose to a singlelarge door, each door can be moved more quickly than conventional ovendoor operating techniques. In various embodiments, the method 1200 cancomprise moving one or more doors from a first position (e.g., aposition facilitating a closed state) to a second position (e.g., aposition facilitating an open state) in no more than a few seconds. Forexample, the method 1200 can move the one or more doors between variouspositions in greater than or equal to 0.25 seconds and less than orequal to 5 seconds. The speed at which the method 1200 can move the oneor more doors depends on the number of doors, the size of the doors,and/or the strength of one or more motors driving the movement.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof methods according to various embodiments of the present invention. Insome alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks canoccur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocksshown in succession can, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks can sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware thatperform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations ofspecial purpose hardware.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in thesubject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construedto mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from contextto be directed to a singular form. As used herein, the terms “example”and/or “exemplary” are utilized to mean serving as an example, instance,or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matterdisclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, anyaspect or design described herein as an “example” and/or “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplarystructures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

What has been described above include mere examples of apparatuses andmethods. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components, products and/or computer-implemented methodsfor purposes of describing this disclosure, but one of ordinary skill inthe art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations ofthis disclosure are possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms“includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used in the detaileddescription, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are intended tobe inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim. The descriptions of the various embodiments have been presentedfor purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variationswill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminologyused herein was chosen to best explain the principles of theembodiments, the practical application or technical improvement overtechnologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oven door operating apparatus, comprising: afirst panel comprising a first plurality of grooves that traverse a sidesurface of the first panel; a second panel comprising a second pluralityof grooves that traverse a side surface of the second panel, wherein aninside surface of the first panel faces an inside surface of the secondpanel; and two or more oven doors, capable of independent movement indifferent directions, positioned between the inside surface of the firstpanel and the inside surface of the second panel, wherein a first doorof the two or more oven doors comprises a plurality of projections thatextend from the first door of the two or more oven doors into a firstgroove and a second groove of the first plurality of grooves and into afirst groove and a second groove of the second plurality of grooves, anda second door of the two or more oven doors comprises a plurality ofprojections that extend from the second door of the two or more ovendoors into a third groove and a fourth groove of the first plurality ofgrooves and into a third groove and a fourth groove of the secondplurality of grooves, wherein the first plurality of grooves extend in afirst direction along the length of the inside of the first panelparallel to an oven body then turn to extend in a second directiontowards an interior of an oven hollow space, wherein the seconddirection of the first groove and the second groove of the firstplurality of grooves are parallel to each other and the second directionof the third groove and the fourth groove of the first plurality ofgrooves are parallel to each other; and the second plurality of groovesextend in the first direction along the length of the inside of thesecond panel parallel to the oven body then turn to extend in the seconddirection towards the interior of the oven hollow space, wherein thesecond direction of the first groove and the second groove of the secondplurality of grooves are parallel to each other and the second directionof the third groove and the fourth groove of the second plurality ofgrooves are parallel to each other so that: the first door is configuredto move in the first direction and turn to the second direction via theplurality of projections that extend from the first door into the firstgroove and the second groove of the first plurality of grooves of thefirst panel and into the first groove and the second groove of thesecond plurality of grooves of the second panel, and the second door isconfigured to move in the first direction and turn to the seconddirection via the plurality of projections that extend from the seconddoor into the third groove and the fourth groove of the first pluralityof grooves of the first panel and into the third groove and the fourthgroove of the second plurality of grooves of the second panel.
 2. Theoven door operating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising anadditional door, of the two or more oven doors capable of independentmovement in different directions positioned between the inside surfaceof the first panel and the inside surface of the second panel comprisinga plurality of projections that extend from the additional door of thetwo or more oven doors into a fifth groove and a sixth groove of thefirst plurality of grooves and into a fifth groove and a sixth groove ofthe second plurality of grooves, wherein the second direction of thefifth groove and the sixth groove of the first plurality are parallel toeach other and the second direction of the fifth groove and the sixthgroove of the second plurality of grooves are parallel to each other. 3.The oven door operating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first end of thesecond door of the two or more oven doors is located between the firstplurality of grooves and a back side of the first panel; a second end ofthe second door of the two or more oven doors is located between thesecond plurality of grooves and a back side of the second panel; and thesecond direction extends towards the back side of the first panel andthe back side of the second panel.
 4. The oven door operating apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a motor connected to the first door ofthe two or more oven doors, wherein the motor is configured to move thefirst door of the two or more oven doors in the first direction and thesecond direction.
 5. The oven door operating apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a second motor connected to the second oven door ofthe two or more oven doors, wherein the second motor is configured tomove the second oven door of the two or more oven doors in the firstdirection and the second direction.
 6. The oven door operating apparatusof claim 5, wherein the first motor is also configured to move the firstdoor of the two or more oven doors in a third direction opposite to thesecond direction and a fourth direction opposite to the first direction;and the second motor is also configured to move the second door of thetwo or more oven doors in the third direction and the fourth direction.